The Student Room Group
Reply 1
xsofiax
Do you need a referral from your doctor to see a dermatologist?
I have had scars from self harm for 3 years now, do you think they'd be able to do anything?


I don't know the answer to your second question. But yes, to see a dermatologist you do need a referral from a GP.
Reply 2
Yeah, my BF had to go to his GP first about some moles and then he was referred to the dermatologist for removal. Only took about 2 weeks for his dermatologist appointment to come through though, so not long :smile: (Could be different in your area though)
Reply 3
That could have been under the 2-week referal rules that some trusts have for ?ca things.

Can they do anything about scars? Yes, no and maybe.

Scars can be dermabraded, lasered, lifted up or shaved down to make them less noticable.
Scars will never be completely removed, there'll always be a trace of them.
There might be nothing that can be done, especilly if your scars are already small.
You might not be able to get this on the NHS as it's cosmetic procedure.
xsofiax
Do you need a referral from your doctor to see a dermatologist?
I have had scars from self harm for 3 years now, do you think they'd be able to do anything?

without psychiatric reports saying you are uber depressed/suicidal because of them then i doubt it.
cosmetic procedures on the nhs? heck no.

hell, they aren't even giving out life extended cancer treatments these days.
Reply 5
xsofiax
Do you need a referral from your doctor to see a dermatologist?
I have had scars from self harm for 3 years now, do you think they'd be able to do anything?


Surgery can be done. Or use Mederma or Scarguard.
Reply 6
i went to my doctor 2 months ago for an urgent referral to the dermatologist for a mole. the letter came thru on friday, so had to wait til yesterday to ring due to bank holiday. and then they told me the nearest available appointment was the 27th june. i told them i thought that was quite unacceptable as 4 months is a ridiculous amount of time to wait for an urgent appointment.

i then got offered one on the 22nd of may.
Reply 7
If it was that urgent they would have fit you in.

Mine took weeks, was daft. Got a referral, had to wait 6 weeks for a letter to tell me to ring up for an appointment, then another 6 weeks from ringing up.
Reply 8
Fleece
If it was that urgent they would have fit you in.
If you can convince your GP that these scars are ?cancer, then you can have an urgent too.

If you can convince a dermatologist that these scars, which tend to be pretty small, level with the skin and straight (unless you used farm equipment to do it) that there will be any noticable benefit from treatment, then you can have them treated (unless you go to certain private clinics that will try to treat them anyway).